A severe storm left Star City without electricity, leaving the town’s municipal building and all other establishments unable to operate on Monday. The power outage persisted for over 40 hours following a violent storm that impacted Monongalia County and North Central West Virginia. By Monday afternoon, the entire town remained in darkness, with the power company estimating restoration potentially by Tuesday night at 11 p.m.
The storm that ravaged the greater Morgantown area was a supercell thunderstorm, known for its capability to produce tornadoes and powerful microbursts. The storm’s impact was reminiscent of a similar event in May 2022, which severely damaged Hazel’s House of Hope. In the recent storm’s aftermath, significant damage was evident. Westover saw a cinder block dugout toppled, and in Star City, the roof of an apartment building was partially displaced onto a former fire station. Additionally, a series of power poles on Collins Ferry Road were snapped.
Winds uprooted trees, causing further damage and power disruptions by toppling utility lines. On Monday afternoon, downed power lines sparked a brush fire near Berry Hill Crossing Road, prompting an all-county alert for additional manpower to assist volunteer crews.
In Morgantown, the storm’s impact was also felt as a tree crashed through a fence in Krepps Park, while in Chestnut Ridge Park, another tree damaged a cabin and lodge. City crews have been tirelessly working to remove approximately two dozen fallen trees. By midday Monday, Arch Street was reopened after clearing displaced power lines, although Riverview Drive remained closed.
Morgantown Communications Director emphasized the importance of community vigilance, urging residents to report any storm-related issues, including downed trees and streetlight repairs, via the Morgantown 311 mobile app.
Interestingly, the storm’s effects were highly localized. Granville Mayor noted the apparent randomness of the storm’s path, as her residence experienced minimal disruption with only a slight breeze and rain. However, parts of Granville, such as Mona Park, suffered significant damage, including mobile homes losing roofs and the social hall sustaining roof damage, while the town hall remained unscathed.